Things to know before your visit to Tulum

Find everything you need to know before traveling to Tulum

Tulum is an obligatory stop on every trip to the Riviera Maya with breathtaking beaches and other natural attractions. However, before getting to this incredible destination, there are some things you need to know to make your stay more pleasant. Know about the best times to go, where to stay or how to move around and do not miss any attraction. 

Best time to visit Tulum

Just like the rest of the Riviera Maya, Tulum has warm climate almost the whole year with temperatures going from 18 ºC to 33 ºC, so sunny days are a basic thing to enjoy your time on the beach. However, from November to March are the best months to go to Tulum, not too hot or risk of rain. 

Where to stay

Tulum has two main zones to stay, Tulum beach and Tulum downtown, that will depend on your preference and budget.  

Tulum downtown is ideal for those travelers with a limited budget that still look for comfort during their stay. Most hotels are in the budget and next to restaurants and bars, so it gets easier to enjoy the evenings. The downtown is the lively area of Tulum, easy to walk and bike through, with sidewalks and streetlights in most parts.

Tulum beach zone is divided in four areas: town, the north, center and south beach, where the most chic hotels are located. This area is more expensive than downtown, so if you want to spend a few days of sand, sun and waves take it into consideration. 

On the outskirts of Tulum Downtown there is an emerging neighborhood called La Veleta with small boutique hotels. And between the beach and downtown there is a new zone in construction called Aldea Zama.

How to get around Tulum

First, to get to Tulum you must arrive to the Cancun international airport, where most national and international flights land. From there you can find some transportation options such as taxi, ADO buses or even private shuttle from Cancun to Tulum. Tulum is just a 2-hour drive from Cancun in easy travel through the Highway 307. 

Once in Tulum the best option to get around the town is by bike since everything is very close. This is an economical transportation option, you can rent a bike everywhere or borrow one at your hotel. If you prefer, you can also walk to the different attractions of the city with total freedom. 

What to visit in Tulum

Tulum is a paradise with plenty of options of activities to do and places to visit to escape from the crowds and get in contact with nature. 

Mayan Ruins are the main attraction and one of the most beautiful postcards of the Caribbean Sea. In there you will find some temples and castles of the Mayan villages and a  spectacular view of the beach since this Mayan ruins are located on a cliff facing the Caribbean Sea. However, besides the Tulum’ Mayan Ruins, there are other archeological zones close to Tulum that you can visit like the Coba ruins and Chichen Itza, the most famous Mayan archaeological site in the world.

Beaches are also an important tourist attraction and one of the main reasons for tourist to visit Tulum. This little town is famous for its turquoise waters and white sand beaches that totally worth the visit. Playa Paraiso and Playa Pescadores are the most popular among tourists because they are the closest to the Mayan Ruins, but there are many other options.  

If you are in a mood for more adventure, you can visit the Cenotes Route to swimming or snorkeling. The most popular are El Gran Cenote and Cenote Dos Ojos, with crystal blue waters and interesting geological features. There are hundreds of cenotes along the Yucatan Peninsula, some open and other semi- open, so you can find many options to visit. 

If you have more time, you can also visit Akumal that is just 30 kilometers from Tulum and is famous for snorkeling with turtles and other marine species. Akumal is also perfect to just enjoy the day in the beach, taking a bath of sun or chilling out.